Page 26 of Empire of Seduction (New York State of Mafia #2)

Then his touch disappeared and I waited, too blissed out to move.

When he returned his palms were slick with the soap again.

“Open,” he said gently swiping between my legs.

I obeyed and he brushed his fingers through my folds, cleaning me intimately.

No one had ever done this but me, but I couldn’t bring myself to complain. I liked having Vito’s hands on me.

“Turn.”

So bossy. So hot.

I spun and pressed my face and palms to the wet tile. Vito began rubbing my shoulders, digging his thumbs into the sore muscles there, and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. “Oh, my god. That feels so good.”

“Have you ever had a boyfriend?”

Right, our earlier conversation. “Once. Freshman year of high school. I thought I loved him—until I overheard him bragging to his friends about taking my virginity.”

Vito’s hands stilled, then resumed their massaging. “I hope you made his life miserable.”

“I punched him in the nose.”

Vito’s bark of laughter echoed off the tile before he kissed the back of my head. “I suppose I should be grateful you only punched me in the stomach, then.”

The confession bubbled up out of me. “It wasn’t the most mature way to handle it. I should’ve broken up with him and moved on. Instead, I internalized my anger and hurt, and slept with his best friend.”

“You are ruthless, diavoletta mia.”

“Men always bring out the worst in me.”

“I’ll remember that.”

He stepped back and gathered more body wash in his hands. I rested against the tile and watched as he began washing himself. Wowza, this man’s body. The water brought out every ridge and muscle, his olive skin glistening. He could have almost any woman on the planet. Why go to a strip club?

I decided to outright ask it. “Why visit a strip club, if you were so obsessed with fucking me again?”

“I was checking into something.”

His hand went between his legs to clean his balls, then his cock. He lingered there, in no hurry to rinse. I hadn’t seen many uncut guys, but Vito’s dick was an absolute prize. I would literally get nothing done if I had access to it whenever I liked. Absently, I asked, “Checking into what?”

“Do you want to stare at my dick, or do you want to ask questions about my day?”

“Can’t I do both?”

“No, bella. You can’t. Because your eyes on me gets me hard and I don’t feel like talking anymore.”

Sure enough, his cock thickened in his grip, the head emerging from the foreskin as he lengthened. It was mesmerizing. All thoughts flew out of my head. I could only watch and feel .

Abruptly, Vito turned the water off. “Andiamo,” he said, pushing open the shower door. “I want to fuck you in my big new bed.”

Stepping onto the mat, I frowned at the mention of the new bed. “You had to mention the bed and make me mad, didn’t you?”

His large palm smacked my ass, hard. “I like it when you’re mad. It’s going to make fucking you even hotter.”

And a few minutes later, I was ready to agree with him.

Vito

I let her sleep.

Once dawn threatened, I edged off the mattress and went to the kitchen. I kept Maggie up late, fucking her again after the shower. She practically passed out when we finished, her body limp and pliant against mine. So soft and sweet, exactly what I needed.

I liked her bold fire, but I was coming to crave the other side of her, the woman who followed directions and let me do as I pleased. The submissive side. These glimpses of my good little angel got my dick so fucking hard.

I made a cappuccino as quietly as I could manage, then sat at the bar and began to work.

The world had no idea how many of us were hiding in plain sight, operating businesses and building up cities.

Bribing mayors and councilmen, threatening competitors.

It was like a game of chess, and I loved it.

Excelled at it. After all, I’d learned from the best. No one was more devious, more intelligent than my brother Enzo.

Sipping my hot drink, I answered emails from my business manager and lawyer, read through the contracts they were handling. I needed to get as much done as possible this morning, seeing as how the rest of the day would be spent hunting down Red Raiders.

I was looking forward to slaughtering those motherfuckers.

A knock sounded and I glanced up, surprised. Massimo was at the door, waving at me to let him in. Sighing, I got up and flipped the deadbolt.

“What are you still doing awake?” I asked quietly as he stepped inside.

“I—” He paused in taking his coat off, his gaze sweeping the living room. I realized then what he was seeing.

Clothes strewn all over the floor. A dress, panties. Heels. My suit.

“Uhhh. Fratello.” My brother threw his jacket onto a bar stool. “Isn’t that what Maggie was wearing last night?”

I said nothing. Instead, I retook my seat and sipped my cappuccino.

He came around the island, leaned over, and smirked directly in my face. “Is she upstairs?”

I flicked him a disgusted glance. “You know I won’t answer that.”

“Well, I won’t be sitting on that couch ever again,” he said dryly.

“Stai zitto cazzo!” I hissed.

He merely laughed and lifted my cappuccino off the counter. “You’re so easy to irritate, V. Shouldn’t you be in a better mood if you got laid last night?”

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to hear some praise about how fucking amazing I am, but I guess I’m out of luck.”

“I take it that the dinner went well?”

“Like clockwork. Plates cleaned. Rave reviews about my food.” He sipped my cappuccino. “You know, the usual.”

“Congratulations. But I’m not surprised. That's why I brought you here.”

Maz stretched his arms to the ceiling, working out his back muscles. “I’m so tired, but I thought I’d smoke first. Are you interested? It would be like the old days on the yacht.”

I narrowed my gaze angrily on my brother. “Did you bring drugs to her winery?”

“Pot is legal here.”

“Did you bring anything else?”

“No, but it wouldn’t be hard to get some molly or coke. I have two brothers who know people.” He winked. “Come on, Vito. You need to relax.”

I rubbed my eyes. Massimo was like a puppy—energetic and sociable, hard to focus. “I can’t. I have a situation I need to deal with today and I can’t be hungover or high.”

“What situation?”

“One of my men was killed the night before last.”

Maz’s expression went slack. “Che cazzo? When were you going to tell me?”

“I wasn’t.” He pressed his lips together, a storm of emotion brewing in his eyes, so I tried to calm him, saying, “I don’t want you involved. You’re not a part of this anymore.”

“You’re my brother and I’m not going to let anything happen to you while I’m here. I want to help.”

I rested my elbows on the island and clasped my hands. “While I appreciate the offer, I won’t bring you back in. You’re out—by your request, I might add. So stay out.”

“Who was responsible?”

“A motorcycle club. The Red Raiders.”

“Wasn’t that who you were dealing with in Toronto?”

I hadn’t shared that information with him. “How do you know this?”

“Enzo, who heard it from Paloma.”

That was the last time I told Paloma something in confidence. “I didn’t realize you’d seen him recently.”

“He’s still my brother and we do stay in touch. I had dinner with him and Gia a few weeks ago.” He finished the cappuccino. “Don’t worry, you’re still my favorite brother.”

Maz and I had always been closest, the two younger sons who didn’t matter, the two who would never lead.

We heard water running upstairs. Looking at Maz, I said, “Do not say anything to her about this.”

My brother held up his palms. “But if you’re bringing trouble to town, don’t you think she should be warned? Are you taking precautions here at the winery?”

“Half of my men are on their way from Toronto. This will all be resolved quickly.”

“They’re not staying here, though. Aren’t you worried?—”

Footsteps on the stairs caused us both to glance over. Maggie came down the steps wearing a pair of my gray sweatpants and one of my SSC Napoli t-shirts—and my dick twitched. Fuck, my clothes looked sexy on her. And I knew she wasn’t wearing panties, which made it even hotter.

I shifted on my stool, wishing we were alone.

Two spots of red dotted her cheeks, but her shoulders were back and she kept her head high. She might be embarrassed but she wouldn’t show it—and my respect for her grew. “Hi,” she said as she reached the floor. “Good morning.”

“Buongiorno, bella,” Maz said and went over to kiss her cheeks. “I’m very glad to see you here.”

“You are?” Her gaze bounced between Maz and me.

“Yes. Maybe now my big brother won’t be such a dick all the time.”

Maggie burst out laughing. “I wouldn’t hold your breath. He’s pretty much set to act-like-a-dick mode at all times.”

Maz found that amusing and I scowled at them both. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“Yes,” they both answered simultaneously.

“I mean Massimo. You—” I pointed at her “—need to get your sexy ass over here.”

Still focused on my brother, she gestured to me. “See what I mean?”

Maz noticed my glower and shook his head. “He hardly ever lets loose, signorina. Maybe you will be a good influence on him.”

I nodded my chin toward the door. “ Vai via, stronzo! ”

Chuckling, my brother came around the island and collected his coat. Maggie put up her hand. “Wait, don’t leave. I want to hear how last night went.”

Maz grinned. “Everything went smoothly. Everyone was happy. No complaints, and the bride’s parents asked to personally thank me.”

I hadn’t heard that part. I had to admit, Maz was better at this chef thing and dealing with a staff than I’d originally given him credit for. I needed to stop busting his balls over it. He clearly had talent and would land on his feet eventually.